Ribbon-reverse mechanism for type-writers.



- G. w. DAVIS RIBBON REVERSE MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS. APPLICATIONFILED JAN. 3, 1907.

1,003,345, Patnted Sept. 12,1911

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r G. W. DAVIS. RIBBON REVERSE MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1907. 1,003,345, 1 Patented Sept. 12,1911.

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G. W, DAVIS. RIBBON REVERSE MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.

APPLICATION FILED 3111.3, 1907.

1,003,345. Patented Sept. 12,1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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GEORGE WILLIAM DAVIS, OF WESTMOUN'I, QUEBEC, CANADA.

RIBBON-REVERSE MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

. Application filed January 3, 1907. Serial No. 350,633.

vented certain new and useful Improvements in Rlbbon-Reverse Mechamsmfor Type-Writers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same.

The object of my invention is to provide a positively actuated ribbonreversing mechanism, and to simplify and render more durable the ribbonmechanism generally.

The invention may be said to consist of the several combinations andarrangements of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in theclaims.

For full comprehension, however, of the invention reference must be hadto the ac companying drawings forming a part of this specification inwhich like symbols in dicate the'same parts and wherein,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the portion of the machine framecarrying the ribbon feed and reversing mechanism; Fig. 2 is an undersideview thereof; Fig. 3 is a sectional view, on a line extending from frontto rear of the said mechanism; Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are detailviews of the members of the said mechanism; Fig. 10 illustrates one ofthe feeding pawls in front and side elevation; Fig. 11 shows aperspective view of one of the ribbon actuated reversing arms, Fig. 12is a detail side elevation of the end of one of the ribbon feedinglevers; and Fig. 13 illustrates in perspective view the operativeconnection between the key levers and the ribbon spools.

The improved ribbon feed mechanism and reversing mechanism areindependent of each other in that the ribbon feed works independently ofthe reversing mechanism and none of the members of the latter are inaction except during the actual time the ribbon is being reversed. Theseimproved mechanisms are supported by a plate 200 secured. by screws 201to the top frame 1500 of the machine and formed with a series of threeguiding transverse slots 202, 202 and 203, and a central clearance slot204. A pair of depending arms 205 are secured by screws 206 to the topframe of the ma-.

chine and a pair of screws 207 threaded through tapped perforations inthe lower ends of these arms 205 have a pair of levers 208, 209fulcrumed thereon and each being of substantially U-form. The lever 208constitutes a ribbon feed lever. and 209 a check lever to limit theextent of rotation imparted to the ribbon spools by the feed lever. Eachend of each of these levers is bent at right angles thereto as at 210and provided with a pair of lugs 2 12 and an enlarged bent end 2212 toform a box in which a pawl 218 is pivotally secured by a pin 2213, whilean expansile spring 21 1 behind the pawl yieldingly retains it normallywith its engaging edge out of the box.

The ribbon feed lever 208 has a depending diagonally slotted forwardlyprojecting arm 215 adapted to have in permanent engagement therewith alateral pin projection 216 upon a vertical arm 217 secured rigidly tothe universal bar 50, each vibration of which oscillates the saidribbon-feed and causes the pawls in the ends thereof to engage androtate ratchet wheels of the particular ribbon spool 219 with which ithappens to be in operative relation. The pawls of the check lever 209retain the spools in any positions to which they are rotated by the feedlevers.

The ribbon is reversed by shifting the levers 208 and 209 to move thepawls carried thereby, and at one side of the machine, out of engagementwith the ratchet wheel (say for instance 225) of the ribbon spool atthat side, and movethe pawls at the opposite ends of the levers, andtherefore at the other side of the machine, into engagement with theratchet wheel 206 of the other ribbon spool. This shifting of the leversis permitted by the length of the screws 207 upon which they arefulcrumed the extent thereof is adjusted by screwing the said screwsinto or out of the depending arms 205 in which they are mounted, while apair of jam nuts 227 set the screws in any position to which they may beadjusted. This shifting of the levers is effected by a pin 230 engaginga slotted projection 228 upon the check lever 209; the latter and thefeed lever 208- being bent apart to accommodate check lever 20 retainthe spools in any posisuch projection. The pin 230 is carried rigidly byan oscillatorydog consisting of plate bent into U-form with one leg 231pivoted (by means of a pin 2300) to the plate (200) and the other, 232,to a bridge-plate 233 secured to the said plate 200. The leg 232 has apair of teeth 234- on opposite sides of the pivot point. The pin extendsthrough versing bar is provided through the medium of which this dog isshifted from side to side of its pivot point, by means of an upwardlyprojecting arm 237 carried by the universal bar 50 and preferably formedwith the arm 217 from a single strip of metal secured in place by screws238. This reversing bar consists of a frame plate 240 having forward andrearward extensions 241 and 242 respectively, formed with centrallongitudinal guiding slots 243 and 244, the forward extension. alsohaving an angular notch 2400 adapted to engage an angular projection2401 upon the bottom of plate 200 when at the forward end of its travelfor the purpose of again moving this reversing bar back to its normalcentral position. The forward end of this frame plate is formed with aslot 245 communicating with an opening 240 and the adjacent end of suchopening presents bearing faces 246, 247, while the 0pposite sides of thesaid openings, a short distance from the opposite end, have a pair ofinwardly projecting shoulders 248 and 249.

A' transversely reciprocatory carrier is operated by the ribbon 250,through the medium of a pair of reversing arms 265, to shift thereversing bar'to bring the bearing faces 246, 247 alternating (astheribbon near the end of its travel in either direction) into the path ofthe arm 237, and one of the shoulders 248' and 249-into position toengage one of the teeth of the reversing dog. This reciprocatory carrierconsists of a frame 251 chambered in its upper side as at 2510 toreceive the reversing bar, and hav- 7 ing its forward end formed withanexten- V sion 252 carrying a stud 253 adapted to engage the guidingslot 243 in the corresponding extension of the said reversing bar, whilea similar stud 2531 carried by the rear end of the carrier engages theguiding slot 244' in the opposite extension 242 of such reversing. bar.A pair of wings 256 upon the carrier are 'slidably connected to theplate (200) by threaded studs 257 provided with heads and shoulders 258and each having its lower end I diminished to form a tennon 259, thehead resting upon the-top of the plate 200 and supporting the carrierinto which it is threaded while the shoulders are located in the slots202 and 202, and the tennons af- 7 ford a sliding pivotal connection 259with the forward ends of the ribbon reversing arms 265. Each of thereversing arms comprises a forked portion, one (260) of the prongswhereof is elongated and perforated as at 261 atits inner end andlongitudinally slotted, as at 262, at its outer end, the other prong 263being perforated and with the inner end of the prong 260 constituting apair of bearings straddling the top frame 1500 of the machine to whichthey are connected by a pivot pin 264. An arm 265 extends rearwardlyfrom the forked portion at a slight outward angle (relatively to themachine) and has its rear end extending vertically and formed with avertical slot 266, open about midway of its height, to receive theribbon.

A retractile spring 600 is connected at its opposite ends to a pair ofpins 601, 602 carried, respectively, by the plate 200 and the bar 240.This spring is for the purpose of causing the bar 240 to automaticallyreassume its normal position.

The operation of this ribbon feed reversing mechanism is as followsz-VVhen the ribbon is almost entirely unwound from one of the spools,the projection or rib thereon (presented by the folds 5002) near suchspool, engages the adjacent reversing arm 265 and carries the end of thelatter with it, thereby shifting the carrier 251 and the reversing bar240 in the opposite direction,

thus moving the contiguous bearing face (say, for instance, 246) of thebar 240 into the path of the arm 237 upon the universal bar.Simultaneously as the ribbon tightens it tends to move the upper ends801 of the ribbon rocker toward the platen, against the resistance ofspring 804 which permits of this movement and, as may be mentioned here,this spring returns the rocker to its normal position with its arms 801away from the platen, thus, it is apparent, the next stroke of eitherthe space bar or a keylever 'willcause the said arm 237 to bear upon thesaid bearing face 246 and move the reversing bar forwardly.Simultaneously with the positioning of the said hearing face theshoulder (say for instance 248) on the corresponding side of the bar isplaced into position to have its ath intersected by the tooth 234 on thea jacent side of the dog (231, 232), and the forward movement justmentioned of the said bar 240 will cause the said shoulder 248 to carrythe tooth before it and shift the dog. This action shifts theribbon-feed and check levers and causes the pawls which have been idleto move into operative relation with the other spool.

The ribbon rocker is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 13 and consists of a U-barpivoted to the frame of the machine and presenting arms 801 adapted toengage the ribbon, a spring 804 tending to retain the said arms 801 ofthe rocker normally inclined away from the platen, and a link 807operatively connects such rocker to the arm 217 of the universal bar 50.One of the key levers of the machine is indicated at 53.

lVhat I claim is as follows:

1. In a typewriting machine the combination with the top frame of themachine, a pair of rotatory ribbon drums, and ratchet toothed disks inoperative connection therewith, of a bar of less length than thedistance between the disks and having its ends bent, pawls carried bythe bent ends of such bar, means actuated synchronously with eachwriting action for oscillating the said bar to move the pawls to andfrom operative relation with one of the disks, and means for at timesshifting the said member from one disk to the other.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a pair of rotatoryribbon drums, and ratchet toothed disks in operative connectiontherewith of a device consisting of a pair of levers of less length thanthe distance between the disks and fulcrumed to oscillate transverselypawls carried by the opposite ends of such levers, means actuatedsynchronously'with each writing action for oscillating the said leversto and from operative relation with one of the disks, and means for attimes shifting the said device from one disk to the other.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a pair of rotatoryribbon drums, and ratchet toothed disks in operative connectiontherewith of a device consisting of a pair of coaxially fulcrumedsubstantially U-form levers of less length than the distance between thedisks, pawls carried by the opposite ends of such levers, means actuatedsynchronously with each writing action for oscillating the said leversto and from operative relation with one of the disks, and means for attimes shifting the said device from one disk to the other.

4. The combination with a supporting frame, a pair of ribbon drums, anda pair of ratchet toothed disks in operative relation with the drums, ofa pair of trunnions upon the frame, an oscillatory drum rotating devicefulcrumed upon the said trunnions, pawls mounted upon such device, meansfor oscillating the said device in a direction intersecting the line inwhich the disks lie, and means for at times shifting the said deviceupon the trunnions to bring the pawls into operative relation with thedrums alternately.

5. In a typewriting machine the combination with a key lever, a pair ofribbon drums, and a pair of ratchet toothed disks in operative relationwith the drums, of a drum rotating device, means shiftably supportingthe device adjacent to the disks, pawls mounted upon such device, meansfor vibrating the said device synchronously with each action of the keylever, and means for at times shifting the said device to bring thepawls into operative relation with the drums alternately.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combi nation with a key lever, asupporting frame, a pair of ribbon drums, and a pair of ratchet tootheddisks in operative relation with the drums, of a pair of trunnions uponthe frame, an oscillatory drum rotating device fulcrumed upon the saidtrunnions, pawls mounted upon such device, means for oscillating thesaid device synchronously with each action of the key lever, and meansfor at times shifting the said device upon the trunnions to bring thepawls into operative relation with the drums alternately.

7. In a typewriting machine the combination wit-h the frame thereof, apair of ribbon drums, and a pair of ratchet toothed disks operativelyconnected to the drums, of levers slidably fulcrumed upon the frame,

spring pawls carried by such levers, means.

operatively connected to one of the levers for imparting oscillatorymovement thereto, means operatively connected to the other of the saidlevers whereby they are shifted from one to the other of the drums.

8. In a typewriting machine the combination with the frame thereof, apair of ribbon drums, and a pair of ratchet toothed disks operativelyconnected to the drums, of a pair of levers 208, 209 of Uform slidablyfulcrumed upon the frame, spring pawls carried by the ends of suchlevers, means operatively connected to the lever 208 for impartingoscillatory movement thereto, means operatively connected to the lever209 whereby the said levers are shifted simultaneously from one to theother of the drums.

9. A ribbon drum rotating device consisting of a toothed disk avibratory lever having lugs forming a box, a pawl fulcrumed in such boX,and a spring normally retaining the said pawl projecting out of the box.

10. The combination with key lever, and a ribbon feeding device, of amember adapted to be moved by the ribbon when the latter nears the endof its travel in either direction, a member operated by the key leverand vibrating synchronously with each typing action, means upon themovement whereof the direction of feed is reversed, and means actuatedby the ribbon operated member for effecting an operative connectionbetween the member operated by the key lever and the feed reversingmeans.

11. The combination with key lever, and a ribbon feeding device, of amember adapted to be moved by the ribbon when the latter nears the endof its travel in either direction, a member operated by the key lever,means operatively connected to the said rib bon operated member, meansoperatively connected to the feeding device, and intermediate meansthrough=the medium whereated by the key lever to operate the meansconnected to the feeding device for the purpose of reversing thedirection of feed.

12. The combination with key lever, and a ribbon feedin device, of amember adapted to be moved y the ribbon, a carrier movable with suchmember, a transversely movable reversing bar mounted upon the carrier, amember operated in unison with each action of the key lever and adaptedto act upon and move the reversing bar when the latter has been moved bythe ribbon oper ated member, and a shifting device in operative relationwith the feeding device and adapted to be acted upon the reversing barwhen the latter has been moved by the ribbon operated member.

13. The combination with key lever and a ribbon feeding device, of apair of levers adapted to be at different times moved in differentdirections by the ribbon, a slidable plate pivot-ally connected to thesaid levers and having an opening, a reversing bar movable with suchplate and independently thereof transversely thereto and having anopening coinciding with the first mentioned opening, such bar presentingwithin the opening at one end thereof and on opposite sides of thelongitudinal center of the bar separated bearing'faces and having onopposite sidesof the said opening a pair of shoulders, a lever actuatedby the key lever and projecting into the said openings and arranged tonormally operateidly between the said bearing faces, a movable deviceoperatively connected to the ribbon feeding device and adaptedto attimes be acted upon by. the reversing bar forthe purpose of re versingthe action of the said feeding device. i

. 14. The combination with key lever and a ribbon feeding device, of apair of levers adapted to be at different times moved in differentdirections by the ribbon, a slidable plate pivotally connected to thesaid levers and having an opening, a reversing bar movable with suchplate and independently thereof transversely thereto and having anopening coinciding with the first mentioned opening, such bar presentingwithin the opening at one end thereof and on opposite sides of thelongitudinal center of the bar separatedbearing faces and having atopposite sides of the said opening a pair of shoulders, a lever actuatedby the key lever and projecting into the said openings and arranged tonormally operate idly between the said bearing faces, an oscillatorydevice having diametrically opposite teeth, a spring retaining the saiddevice on either side of the center of oscillation, and a slidingpivotal connection between the said device and the ribbon feedingdevice, for the purpose of reversing the action of the said feedingdevice.

15. In a typewriting machine of the class utilizing a platen, a ribbon,and a universal bar with an upwardly projecting arm, the combinationwiththe frame of the machine, of a ribbon rocker comprising a member adaptedto slidably retain the ribbon, means whereby the said member ispivotally supported upon the frame, a spring operatively connected tothe said member and retaining the same inclined away from the platen,and a link operatively connecting the said upwardly projecting arm tothe said member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE WILLIAM DAVIS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM P. MOFEAT, FRED J. SEARS.

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Washington, D. G.

